Student Farm Provides Local Food, Leadership Lessons

Cody Yothers, ’13, and Kaitlyn Pospiech, ’13, are getting their hands dirty learning how to provide locally grown, environmentally sustainable food to the Albion College community through the student farm.

Both students found out that when elements like weather and pests are factored in, things don’t always go as planned. But that experience may be the best educational lesson, says Tim Lincoln, professor and director of Albion College’s Center for Sustainability and the Environment.

Over the summer, Yothers worked with Albion’s student farm as part of his summer research project combining community outreach with community gardening. Pospiech made a deal with Bon Appétit, Albion’s dining service provider, to sell the tomatoes, beans, basil, and broccoli grown on the farm. She also enlisted Albion students to help with harvesting the produce this fall.

A group of five students started the farm during Albion’s Year of Sustainability in 2010.

• Watch the student farm video on Vimeo